A southwest suburban Chicago community is mourning the loss of a beloved teacher who was stabbed to death by her estranged husband, who also died when he stepped in front of oncoming traffic after the slaying.

Susan Cunningham, 47, was murdered Tuesday in her Plainfield, Illinois, home by her husband 46-year-old Craig Cunningham, according to police.

NBC Chicago reported that officials were dispatched to the couple's home for a welfare check after a concerned neighbor called police around 8pm.

The Plainfield North High School teacher, who had taken the year off because she was battling cancer, was found with multiple stab wounds in the upstairs bedroom when officers entered the home.

Tragic: Police say Susan Cunningham, 47, was murdered on Tuesday in her Plainfield, Chicago, home by her husband, 46-year-old Craig Cunningham

Shortly after the teacher's stabbing, police say her husband of a year and a half died after stepping in front of a semi-truck on Interstate 55 in Plainfield. Above the couple is pictured on their wedding day

Susan Cunningham was found in an upstairs bedroom in the home pictured above by police officers. She was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead

Police said she was unresponsive and not breathing. She was taken to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois, where she was pronounced dead.

Shortly after the teacher's stabbing, police say her husband of a year and a half died after stepping in front of a semi-truck on Interstate 55 in Plainfield, NBC Chicago reported.

Police said that before taking his life, the woman's husband called one of his relatives and admitted to killing her.

He also told the relative that he wouldn't be going to jail because he was going to commit suicide, NBC Chicago reported.

Police said that before taking his life, Susan Cunningham's husband called one of his relatives and admitted to killing her. Together the couple had five children, two of which were from Susan's previous marriage

Susan Cunningham taught health and physical education at Plainfield North High School. She had taken a year off from teaching because she was battling cancer

Police said that Susan Cunningham felt threatened by her husband and reached out to them before going back home.

As a precaution, they offered to escort her there, but she declined because she felt it might escalate the situation.

During a news conference, chief John Konopek, of the Plainfield Police Department, said that the woman's slaying did not appear to be planned and the couple's children were not present at the time.

They had five children between the two of them, two were from Susan's previous marriage, the Chicago Tribune reported.

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Konopek also shared that the couple were having marital problems, and that Susan Cunningham would stay with relatives for short periods of time.

Wednesday evening hundreds of students and faculty members gathered to remember the longtime health and physical education teacher at Plainfield North High School.

'She touched all these people's lives in one way shape or form and I know, we know, that they all touched her life as well so we're grateful for that,' her brother Dan Brown told NBC Chicago.

'She just had the biggest heart,' former student Emily Pedersen told the TV station. 'She was there for everyone. She was shoulder to cry on if you needed.'

Police say that Susan Cunningham (left) would stay with relatives for short periods of time due to problems in her marriage. Her brother, Dan Brown (right), says that his sister touched so many lives as a teacher

Wednesday evening hundreds of students and faculty members gathered to remember Susan Cunningham during a vigil at Plainfield North High School